Easter on Lake Garda 2027: Dates, Excursions, and the Most Beautiful Places

Lake Garda – When the first trees bloom along the shore in late March, the water is still cold and the promenades are full of strollers.

Easter on Lake Garda falls on March 28, 2027, which is in the last week of March. The castle and the Roman ruins in Sirmione, the small town on a narrow peninsula on the southern shore, are open by then, as are the waterfall near Riva del Garda at the northern tip and the large garden park near Valeggio sul Mincio, south of the lake, with its tulips in bloom. Other destinations open shortly thereafter: The cable car from Malcesine On the eastern shore, the route to Monte Baldo—the long mountain ridge overlooking the lake—takes a break for maintenance in March, and the ferries switch from the winter to the spring schedule shortly before Easter.

This guide shows you what’s open over Easter and how much it costs, which seven places are worth visiting during the Easter break, what traditions and events are taking place around Good Friday and Easter Monday, and how to cross the lake without a car.

When is Easter in 2027, and how warm is it at Lake Garda?

In 2027, Good Friday falls on March 26, and Easter Monday on March 29. In Italy, Easter Monday is called Pasquetta, is a public holiday and is traditionally a day for a trip to the countryside.

At the end of March, it feels like spring at Lake Garda, but it’s not yet warm. At the Bardolino-Calmasino weather station in the hills above the eastern shore, average daily highs in March are 14.3 °C and 18.3 °C in April. These are the figures recorded by the Veneto Region’s Environmental Agency from 1994 to 2025. You’ll need a jacket in the mornings and evenings, but at midday, a sweater is often enough in the sun.

The lake itself is still at winter temperatures. On April 1, 2026, the Trentino Provincial Environmental Agency measured a temperature of 9.45 °C at a depth of one meter off the beach at Riva. That’s too cold for swimming, but just right for long walks along the shore. Incidentally, in early April 2026, the water had completely mixed all the way to the bottom for the first time since the winter of 2006, as reported by the Province of Trento. Check out our website to see what the weather will be like in the days leading up to your trip. Weather at Lake Garda.

Lake Garda, at about 370 square kilometers, is Italy’s largest lake. Its shores are shared by three regions: Lombardy to the west and south, Veneto to the east, and Trentino at the northern tip, to which only a narrow strip of the lake belongs. For Easter, the most important factors are the weather, the water temperature, and two events: the tulip bloom in the Parco Giardino Sigurtà, the large garden park near Valeggio sul Mincio, and the big youth regatta in Riva. You can get around just fine without a car: There are two train stations on the south bank, a bus connects Riva to the Rovereto train station, and ferries run between the towns.

What's open at Lake Garda during Easter?

Most attractions on the south bank and in the north are open over Easter, and many are even open year-round. The Catullus's Grottoes, the ruins of a large Roman villa at the tip of the Sirmione peninsula, are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; on Mondays, they are open only from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission costs €10.00; at the ticket office, you can only pay by card. The Rocca Scaligera, the moated castle of the Scaliger family, the ruling dynasty of Verona, located at the entrance to the Old Town. It is closed on Mondays.

With the combo ticket for €20.00, you can see both of them, plus the Roman Villa In Desenzano del Garda, a Roman villa with mosaic floors. The ticket is valid for seven days. The Varone Waterfall, a waterfall in a narrow gorge above Riva del Garda, is open year-round; in March from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from April onward until 6 p.m. Adults pay €7.00; tickets are available only on site. At Parco Giardino Sigurtà, the 2026 season began on March 7. Admission costs €18.00.

Two destinations require a bit of luck with the calendar. According to the operator, the cable car from Malcesine to Monte Baldo closes every March for maintenance; in 2026, the summer season began on April 4. And the Limonaia del Castel, a historic lemon house in Limone sul Garda, is open in the winter only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission. During the season, admission costs €2.00.

The 7 Most Beautiful Places to Spend Easter on Lake Garda

These seven towns offer views of the lake from every angle, from the Roman town of Sirmione in the south to Riva del Garda at the foot of the mountains in the north. It gets crowded everywhere during the holidays, especially in the afternoon. If you arrive in the morning, you’ll have the old towns and lakeside paths almost all to yourself. We have a detailed guide for each town.

1. Sirmione: Castle, Roman villa, and tulips in the old town

Sirmione is situated on a narrow peninsula that juts far out into the lake from the southern shore. The old town begins just beyond the Rocca Scaligera, and at the tip of the peninsula, nestled among olive trees, lie the Grotte di Catullo. At Easter 2026, the old town and the lakeside promenade were in full bloom Diaz Lakeside and on Viale Marconi Over 46,000 tulips—a joint initiative by the municipality and Parco Sigurtà. During the holidays, the Old Town is closed to all cars in the afternoons, so you’ll need to get there on foot or by boat. All the highlights are listed in our guide. Sights in Sirmione.

2. Malcesine: Old Town below Scaliger Castle

Malcesine, on the eastern shore, is a town of narrow streets clustered around a Scaliger castle perched on a rock directly above the water. From here, the cable car runs up to Monte Baldo. A round-trip ticket costs €30.00 for adults (€28.00 online); children under 1.20 meters ride for free. Since the cable car is closed for maintenance in March, Malcesine will be a top destination for exploring the old town and the lakeside path to the north during Easter 2027. You can find more about the town in our article on Malcesine.

3. Limone sul Garda: Lemon Groves Beneath the Cliff Face

Limone sul Garda It is located on the western shore beneath sheer cliffs and is known for its lemon houses—terraced gardens with tall stone pillars where lemons used to ripen. You can visit one of them: the Limonaia del Castel, which offers a view of the lake. Admission is free in the winter; during the season, it costs €2.00. Our article about the Limonaia del Castèl Lemon House. After that, it's worth taking a stroll along the waterfront promenade beneath the cliffs.

4. Riva del Garda: Mountains, a Waterfall, and a Youth Regatta

Riva del Garda The northern tip is already part of Trentino. At Easter 2026, the Lake Garda Meeting Optimist, a regatta organized by the Fraglia Vela Riva, the city's sailing club. The races are sailed in Optimists, the small single-handed dinghies used to teach children to sail. More than 1,000 young sailors from over 40 countries were registered; according to the organizer, it is the world's largest regatta in this boat class.

Above the town, the Cascata del Varone plunges 98 meters in two stages into a limestone gorge. To find out how to get there and what awaits you in the gorge, check out our article on the Varone Waterfall, more about the city in Vacation in Riva del Garda.

5. Lake Garda and Punta San Vigilio: Lakeside Path to the Headland

The Town Garda, after which the lake is named, is located in a wide bay on the eastern shore. From its promenade, a lakeside path leads to the Punta San Vigilio, a headland with cypress trees, an old villa, and a small swimming cove Bay of the Sirens. In the spring, the bay is a destination for walkers, not swimmers, and that's exactly what makes the walk so pleasant at Easter. You can read more about this in our article on Punta San Vigilio.

6. Lazise and Bardolino: City Walls, Harbor, and Wine Town

Lazise On the southeastern shore, there is an almost continuous city wall with towers and a small harbor right in the center of town. Emperor Otto II granted the town its own rights in 983, which is why Lazise is considered Italy’s first free municipality. To the north of it lies Bardolino, the wine-growing town after which the light red wine from the eastern shore is named. A path runs along the shore between the two towns—perfect for an Easter stroll. You can find the highlights of Lazise in Lazise Attractions.

7. Desenzano and Peschiera: the train stations on the south shore

Desenzano del Garda On the southwestern shore, there is a harbor with a lighthouse and the Villa Romana with its mosaics, which is included in the combined ticket with Sirmione. Peschiera del Garda The southeast corner is located within a Venetian fortress that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017. There is no admission fee to visit the walls. Both places have a train station and are therefore the most convenient destinations to reach without a car. More on this in Desenzano del Garda Attractions and Peschiera del Garda Attractions.

Easter Traditions on Lake Garda: Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Pasquetta

In Italy, Easter is a celebration for churches and families. In Castelletto di Brenzone, a fishing village on the eastern shore between Malcesine and Torri del Benaco, the Living Way of the Cross A "Living Way of the Cross" will take place, in which the Stations of the Cross are reenacted. In 2025, it began at 8:30 p.m.; participation is free.

On Easter Sunday, parishes celebrate Easter Mass, after which families spend a long time sitting around the table. Pasquetta is a day for outings: those who can head out to the countryside, the lake, or the hills with a picnic. The major Easter traditions throughout Italy, from the Explosion of the Cart, from the exploding parade float in front of Florence Cathedral to the processions in Sicily—you'll find it all in our article Easter in Italy.

Easter Events on Lake Garda

Around Easter, there are three events on the calendar at Lake Garda: Good Friday in Castelletto, the tulip bloom at Parco Sigurtà, and the youth regatta in Riva. According to the park, depending on the weather, the tulips bloom from the second half of March through mid-April—over a million of them in about 300 varieties. Read more about the blooms and the park in our article Tulip Mania at Parco Sigurtà.

What's on the menu for Easter at Lake Garda?

The most famous Easter pastry in Italy is the Colomba, a yeast cake shaped like a dove. Since 2005, a decree has specified the required ingredients: among other things, butter, egg yolks, natural sourdough, and at least 15 % candied citrus peels, topped with a glaze made of egg whites and sugar, coarse sugar, and at least 2 % almonds. A Colomba without candied peel is permitted, but it must state this in its name. In the province of Verona, which includes the eastern shore, there is even a version of its own: The Verona Easter Colomba It is included on the list of traditional foods of Veneto maintained by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture.

In Italy, lamb is part of the Easter meal, agnello, usually baked in the oven with rosemary and garlic. Wines from the lake region pair well with this dish. The Lugana, a white wine made from the Turbiana grape grown on the southern shore between Desenzano, Sirmione, and Peschiera, has held a Protected Designation of Origin (DOC) status since 1967 and, according to the consortium, was the first such designation in Lombardy. Bardolino from the eastern shore followed in 1968. Its grapes are also used to produce the Chiaretto, a light rosé that pairs well with lamb.

Easter with Kids at Lake Garda

At Easter, activities that take place outdoors and don’t require swimming weather are especially worthwhile when you’re with kids. The Cascata del Varone is a little adventure: from two caves, you can look down into the gorge where the water plunges. With its long trails and meadows, Parco Sigurtà is a great place for a family day out—especially during tulip season.

A boat ride is a must. For the short trip from Desenzano to Sirmione, adults pay €3.50, and the children get to see the castle from the water. In Riva, they watch kids their own age sailing at the Optimist regatta. The large amusement park Gardaland For Castelnuovo del Garda, be sure to check the park's calendar of events beforehand, since its season begins in the spring, and Easter falls early in 2027.

How are you getting to Lake Garda for Easter?

If you're coming by car from the north, take the A22 Brenner Highway. To reach the north shore, take the Rovereto Sud exit; for the east shore and the south, take the Affi exit. Traffic is heavy on the A22 and along the lakeside roads during the holidays. If possible, arrive on the Wednesday before Easter and depart on the Tuesday after.

You can reach the southern part of the lake directly by train: The train stations Desenzano del Garda–Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda are located along the route from Milan to Venice. To get to Riva del Garda, take the train to Rovereto and from there take the B332 bus from Trentino Trasporti, the public transportation agency of the Province of Trento. Its schedule is valid through June 2027.

On the lake itself, a boat is the most beautiful way to get around. The liners from Navigarda, the Lake Garda ferry company, will operate on the winter schedule through March 25, 2027; after that, the spring schedule will take effect. In 2026, it began on April 1. Our article compares other ways to get to the lake Journey to Lake Garda.

Which shore is right for you?

The South: Culture Without a Car. Sirmione, Desenzano, and Peschiera are located close to one another, and two of them have train stations. With the combination ticket, you can visit the castle, the grotto, and the Villa Romana in one week, and travel by boat between the towns.

The East for Walkers. Between Peschiera and Malcesine lies the Riviera degli Ulivi Along the shore, the Olive Coast with Garda, Bardolino, and Lazise. Here, you can walk from town to town along the water at Easter.

The North for mountains and outdoor activities. Riva del Garda, Torbole, and Arco are nestled beneath high cliffs. Here you'll find the waterfall, the youth regatta, and most of the hiking trails, and you can take the bus to Rovereto to catch a train in about an hour.

The West for peace. Limone, Gargnano, and Tignale are situated along a steep coastline dotted with lemon groves. The coastal road is narrow, but the towns are quieter than those in the south.

What You Should Know About Easter on Lake Garda

1. Easter falls before the season in 2027. At the end of March, many businesses are still operating on a winter schedule. The cable car to Monte Baldo is on hiatus, the Limonaia del Castel is open only on weekends, and the boats are in the process of changing their schedules. Check the destinations that are important to you on the operator’s website one week before your trip.

2. Mondays are half-days off in Sirmione. The Rocca Scaligera is closed on Mondays, and the Grotte di Catullo are open only in the morning. In 2026, there were special openings on Pasquetta, but you shouldn't count on that. So plan your visit to Sirmione for Saturday or Sunday.

3. Swimming is canceled. At the end of March, the lake is still at winter temperatures. If you still want to get down to the water, find a path along the shore or one of the beaches for a picnic in the sun. You can find the best swimming spots for later in the year in our guide Beaches on Lake Garda.

4. On holidays, you need to buy tickets in advance. In 2026, Parco Sigurtà only allowed entry on Pasquetta with an online ticket for that specific date, and in Sirmione, you can only pay by card at the Grotte ticket office.

5. The best way to get to Sirmione is without a car. The Old Town is a restricted traffic zone (ZTL), and on holidays it's completely closed to traffic in the afternoon. Take the boat from Desenzano, or park outside the Old Town and walk the last few meters.

Our take: Easter at Lake Garda is worth a visit for its culture, blooming flowers, and lakeside trails

Easter at Lake Garda isn’t the time for swimming—it’s the time for walks. The castles and ruins in Sirmione are open, the tulips are blooming in Parco Sigurtà, and along the shores between Garda and Lazise, you can walk by the water for hours. There’s also a live Stations of the Cross on the eastern shore and a regatta with over a thousand young sailors in Riva.

Easter falls early in 2027, and that comes with its own challenges: Not all trains are running yet, and some destinations are still operating on a winter schedule. If you plan ahead, avoid scheduling your visit to Sirmione for Monday, and travel by train and boat during the holidays, you’ll be able to enjoy the lake in a more relaxed way than in the summer.

If you'd rather have weather suitable for swimming, come to Pentecost at Lake Garda. You can find all the towns, beaches, and day trips around the lake in our Lake Garda Travel Guide.

Prices, hours of operation, and schedules are subject to change. Check the official websites for the latest information before your trip.